This story begins when Vanessa Jacobs, a licensed veterinary technician at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, spotted a young cat on a rooftop. Vanessa was concerned that the cat was stuck on the roof. She threw food down to the cat, and notified her coworkers at the ASPCA’s Animal Hospital.

Michelle Falcon, the Hospital’s Internal Medicine Department Manager and “cat wrangler extraordinaire,” rushed to the location. Once at the site, Michelle and Vanessa met up with NYC Animal Care & Control Field Supervisor Kevin Sexton, who gained access to a nearby building to survey the roof. But there was no cat to be found.

The assembled group conferred: Perhaps the little cat had climbed down via a nearby tree? But Vanessa was worried–she really felt the cat had been in distress. That’s when the FDNY got involved. Gallant firefighters from the local firehouse used their ladder to climb up to the roof and conduct a thorough search.

A firefighter’s sharp eyes spotted the maiden in distress. She was crouched behind a ledge with big frightened eyes. Her knight in firefighting gear gently lifted her into a carrier and delivered her safely to those waiting below.

Next stop: the ASPCA! The now-safe feline waif was assessed by the medical staff at the ASPCA’s headquarters on 92nd Street in Manhattan.Dr. Anna Whitehead performed a thorough exam and blood work, and found the kitten to be around six months old, dehydrated and much too thin, with fleas and ear mites, but otherwise healthy. The sweet kitten, thrilled to be in caring hands, purred gratefully. She was treated with intravenous fluids and anti-parasite medications, dewormed, vaccinated, and given plenty of nutritious food.

After a few days of hydration, square meals, and plenty of pampering, “Vanessa,” as she had been dubbed in honor of the persistent technician who saved her life, was pronounced ready to move to the ASPCA’s Adoption Center and await that special family to start the next chapter of her life! Our guess is that Vanessa has had more than her share of excitement, and will be happy to be a lap kitty for the rest of her days.

Interested in adopting our brave Vanessa? Please call the ASPCA Adoption Centerat (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. To make an appointment at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, please fill out this formor contact us at (646) 259-4080.